Mounting means for motors



April 12, 1966 H. H. HART MOUNTING MEANS FOR MOTORS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 8, 1964 INVENTOR. HERBERT H. HART April 12, 1966 H. H. HART 3,245,641

MOUNTING MEANS FOR MOTORS Filed Jan. 8, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v I02 I04")? W "a? Q FIG. 4

INVEN'i'OR. HERBERT H. HART M A m ATTO RN EY United States Patent 3,245,641 MQUNTING MEANS FOR MOTORS Herbert H. Hart, El Dorado, Karts, assignor of one-haif to Willard J. Kiser, Wichita, Karts. Filed Jan. 8, 1964, Ser. No. 336,471 3 Claims. (Cl. 248-4) This invention relates to mounting means for motors or the like and, in a more specific aspect, the invention relates to means for mounting outboard motors or the like on a boat. In a more specific aspect the invention relates to means for mounting outboard motors on boats so that same can be easily moved to place the boat motor propeller into or out of the water. In a still more specific aspect the invention relates to means for mounting an outboard motor on a boat or the like so that the outboard motor can be used as an auxiliary motor for trolling on boats having other powering means or the motor can be used as the primary motor for propelling the boat.

Various means for mounting boat motors or the like are known to the art. These includespecial construction for boat transoms or the like to accommodate mounting means on the boat motor. In addition, separate mounting means for boat motors are known to the art which include devices having portions mountable directly onto the boat transom and having other portions to accommodate a boat motor or the like when positioned in the water. Some of the boat motor mounting means of the art are adapted to move the boat motor while mounted and can be moved in a generally vertical plane to place the propeller into and out of the water. Some of the prior art devices are complicated structurally and in some instances do not provide any suitable means for elevating boat motors in a generally vertical plane or for holding same in the elevated position except by the use of structurally complicated apparatus. In the prior art boat motor mounting means where the boat motor is to be moved out of the water, no suitable means are provided to assist the elevation of the motor and, due to the relatively great weight of many outboard motors, upward movement of the motor relative to the boat is difficult.

In accordance with the present invention new mounting means for boat motors and the like are provided which overcome many of the disadvantages of the prior art. The mounting means for boat motors or the like of the invention includes frame means connectible to a boat or the like and motor support means adapted to mount a motor or the like. Arm means are operatively connected to the frame means and the motor support means movably mounting the motor support means relatively to the frame means so that the motor support means is positionable in elevated and lowered positions. Means having a portion connectible to the motor support means and a portion connectible to the boat is provided and is constructed and adapted to hold the motor support means in the elevated position.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide new mounting means for boat motors and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide new mounting means for outboard motors wherein the motor when mounted thereon is easily movable from an elevated to a lowered position and from a lowered to an elevated position.

Another object of the invention is to provide new means for mounting outboard motors on a boat wherein the mounting means has means normally urging the motor means into an elevated position.

A further object of the invention is to provide new means for mounting outboard motors and the like wherein the outboard motor is movable from a lowered to an elevated position and wherein latch means are provided to hold the motor in the elevated position when desired.

Various other objects, advantages and features of the 3245b Patented Apr. 12, 1966 ice invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a preferred specific embodiment of the mounting means for outboard motors or the like of the invention having an outboard motor positioned thereon and with the mounting means being positioned on a boat transom.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged isometric view illustrating the preferred specific embodiment of the mounting means for gitgmird motors or the like of the invention shown in FIG. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal cross section view through the mounting means for outboard motors or the like of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with the portion of the frame means having the latch means thereon being shown in plan view.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial cross section view taken along the lines 44 of FIG. 3.

The following is a discussion and description of a preferred specific embodiment of the improved mounting means for outboard motors or the like of the invention, such being made with reference to the drawings whereon the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/ or structure. It is to be understood that such discussion and description is not to unduly limit the scope of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, a preferred specific embodiment of the mounting means for outboard motors or the like of the invention is shown generally at 10 and is particullarly constructed and adapted for use in mounting an outboard motor or the like 12 on the transom 14 of a boat 15. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the boat is an inboard motor boat having the usual propeller 16 which normally drives the boat, however, the mounting means of the invention is usable on boats in tended to be powered by outboard motors and the motor 12 held by the mounting means it) of the invention can be either the primary power means or auxiliary power means or can be a trolling motor or the like. It is with the relatively small in weight and size and so-called trolling motor that the new mounting means of my invention is particularly desirably used.

The mounting means for outboard motors and the like 10 of the invention preferably includes a mounting frame shown generally at 20 which preferably includes a U- shaped portion formed of three angle irons which includes side portions 22 and 24 and a base portion 26 and the ends of the side portions 22 and 24 opposite from the base portion 26 can be connected by a cross bar or frame member 28. The members 22, 24, 26 and 28 form an open framework and the various parts are assembled so that one side or face thereof is flat and is positionable in abutting engagement with the transom 14 of the boat 15 in the manner best illustrated in FIG. 1. Preferably, the side members 22 and 24 are provided with holes or openings therethrough, such as shown at 30 and 32 for the member 22, and the holes are adapted to receive mounting bolts or the like 34 when mounting the frame 20 on the transom 14 of the boat 15. A mounting plate 36 can be provided and positioned inside the boat 15 when mounting the frame thereon.

The frame 2!) additionally includes frame members 38 and 40 which are preferably formed of angle irons and are positioned in spaced and generally parallel relation and can be secured by welding or other suitable means to the intersection of the base 26 and side portions 22 and 24 of the frame 20. The outermost end portions of the frame members 38 and 40 can be connected by a frame member or brace 42 if desired. The frame 20 also preferably includes two additional frame members 44 and 46 which can be formed from angle irons or other suitable material and preferably the members 44 and 46each have one end connected to the outermost ends of the side portions 22 and 2.4 of the U-shaped portion of the frame and the other end portions of the frame members 44 and 46 are preferably connected to the outermost end portions of the frame members 38 and 40. The frame 20 as described hereinbefore is relatively rigid so that when mounted on the transom 14 of boat 15 the frame is adapted to receive and hold the weight of the other portions of the mounting means and the motor '12 mounted thereon.

Two pivots 50 and 52 are ,mounted on the side portions 22 and 24 of the frame 20 and are preferably positioned at opposite end portions of the side portions 22 and 24 as best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The pivots 50 and 52 can be cylindrical and mounted by suitable bolt means 54 and 56, respectively, if desired.

A motor support member is provided and is shown generally at 54 and preferably includes an open generally rectangular frame which has upper and lower frame members 56 and 58 connected in the ends to side frame members such as shown at 60, it being understood that a similar side member is positioned at the other side of the frame. Mounted within the frame of support 54 is a member 62 which has upper portions shaped and of size to receive the motor mounting portions 63 'of the motor 12 and the member 62 can be mounted on the frame by suitable mounting bolts 64 and nuts 66.

A first pair of arms 76 and 72 are provided and are connected in one end portion to the lower ends of the side portions 60 of the frame of the motor support member 54 and the arms have the other end portions thereof connected to the pivot 52. Arms 76 and 72 can be connected to the member 54 by use of a mounting bolt or pivot 73. A second pair of arms 74 and 76 are each connected in one end portion to the upper end of the frame of the motor support member 54, such as by the use of a mounting bolt 78, and the arms are located in spaced relation to the arms 70 and 72. The arms 74 and 76 are each connected in the other end portion to the pivot 50 and each of the arms 70, 72, 74 and 76 are preferably of substantially the same size and located in substantially parallel relation to the other arms.

The arms 70, 72, 74 and 76 movably mount the motor support means 54 relative to the frame means 20 and the arm means are movable from a lowered to an elevated position and from the elevated position to the lowered position, the parts being shown in the solid lines or lowered position in FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawings and with the structure shown in the dashed lines in FIGS. 1 and 3 illustrating the elevated position. Since the arms are generally parallel to each other they form parallelograms and permit movement of the motor sup,- port member 54 without substantially changing the planar relation of the member 54 to the frame 20. In other words, the motor 12 remains in substantially the same upright position during movement of the motor support member 54. In addition, the motor support member 54 is generally parallel to the U-shaped por-' tion of the frame 26 which in turn is mounted on the back face of the transom 14 of the boat 15.and as a result the portion or motor support member 54 is generally parallel to the transom 14 so that the boat motor 12 when mounted thereon is generally in the same vertical plane or position that it would be if it were mounted directly on the boat transom.

Means are preferably provided to urge the arm members and motor support means into the elevated position. For this purpose, two spring mounting flanges 80 and 8-2 are provided and are secured to the inner surfaces of the arms 70 and 72, respectively, in opposed relation and in spaced relation to the pivot 52. Two

helical springs 84 and 86 are provided and have the.

center portions thereof positioned around the pivot 52 4 at opposite end portions thereof and each has one end portion thereof engaging the base portion 26 of the mounting frame 20 as. best illustrated by the portion 88 of spring 86 in FIG. 3. The other end portions of the springs 84 and 86 are shown at 90 and 92, respectively, and they project through holes or openings in the spring mounting flanges 80 and 82, respectively, and the springs 84 and 86 are preferably mounted on the pivots so that the tension of the springs urges the arms 70 and 72 upwardly into the elevated position. Preferably, the tension of the springs 84 and 86 is sufficiently great to substantially balance the weight of the arms and motor support means 54 and can be greater if desired to help support the motor 12;

The brace or frame member 44 preferably has an elongated longitudinally extendnig slot 96 therein in the side 45 of the angle iron forming the brace or frame member 44 and one end portion of the slot 96 is preferably adjacent the arm 74 when the pairs of arms are in the lowered position as best illustrated in FIG. 2. A shaft or mounting bolt 98 is mounted on the side portion 47 of the frame member or brace 44 and can be held in place by a nut or the like 100.

An elongated latch member 102 is provided and has one end portion thereof pivotally mounted on the shaft 98 and the other end portion thereof shown generally by the numeral 164 in FIG. 4 is engageable with the side portion 45 of the frame member or brace 44 adjacent the end of the slot 96. The latch member 102- preferably has a side portion 106 which projects through the slot 96 in the brace or frame member 44 and is positionable in the path of movement of the arm 70 when the arm is moved from the elevated position to the lowered position and the arm 70 can then rest againstthe projecting side portion 106 to hold all four of the arms in the elevated position.

A latch spring mounting member or flange 108 is desirably provided and is rigidly secured to the lower surface of the side or portion 47 of the "once or frame member 44 and projects downwardly therefrom and is positioned in spaced relation to the latch member 102. An elongated coil latch spring 116 is provided and is positioned between and engages the latch spring mounting member 108 and the latch member 102 and the spring 110 can be retained in place by providing spring receiving recesses in the members ltlz and 108 as illustrated in FIG. 4. Spring 110 is normally under compression to continually urge the latch member 102 to the positionshown in the solid lines in FIG. 4, that is, into the path of movement of the arm member 70;

A latch operating member 112 is provided and has one end portionthereof connected to the latch member 102' and the other end portion thereofis positioned in spaced relation to the latch member, preferably adjacent the flange or spring mounting member 108. The latch operating member 112 can be moved from the position shown in the solid lines to the position shown in the dashed lines in FIG. 4 to thereby move the latch member 102 out of the interfering way of the arm70 to permit lowering of the arm.

In use, the mounting means for outboard motors or the like of the invention is mounted on a transom, 14 of a boat or the like 15 by bolts 34 and an outboard motor 12 is mounted on the: portion 54 of the mounting means. The motor 12 can then be moved to the lowered position as shown in FIG. 1 for use in trolling or used as the primary means for propelling the boat 15 and, when it is desired not to use the motor 12, the motor can be moved by the boat operator to an elevated position as shown in the dashed lines in FIG. 1 by pulling upwardly on the motor 12 or on movable portionsof the motor mounting means 10. The motor 12 is held in the elevated position by operation of the latch mechanism and upward movement of the motor 12 and the associatedportions of the mounting means is greatly facilitated by use of the spring members 84 and 86 which are operatively connected to the arms to urge same and the motor into the elevated position. In addition, positioning of the latch member 102 as illustrated in the drawings permits the portion 106 of the latch member to also engage the arm 74 when in a partially elevated position to thereby hold the motor 12 in a position approximately half way between the position shown in the solid and dashed lines in FIG. 1.

The mounting means for outboard motors or the like of the invention as described herein is relatively simple to construct and mount on a boat or the like and is less complicated to use than many prior art structures, particularly insofar as the provision of a means for holding the structure in the elevated position. In addition, the mounting means of the invention is easier to use than many prior art devices by virtue of the provision and operation of the spring means 84 and 86 which greatly facilitate elevation of the outboard motor 12.

While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred specific embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that such is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention which is defined by the claims.

I claim:

1. Mounting means-for outboard motors and the like comprising, in combination, a mounting frame including a U-shaped portion formed of three angle irons with side portions thereof having holes therethrough to receive mounting bolts to connect said frame to a transom of a boat or the like, said frame having two spaced and generally parallel angle irons each secured in one end portion to and projecting at a right angle from the intersection of the base and side portions of said U-shaped portion of said frame, said frame having two spaced and generally parallel braces formed of angle iron each having one end connected to the outermost ends of said side portions of said U-shaped portion of said frame and having the other end connected to said last-named angle irons, two pivots mounted on said side portions of said U-shaped portion of said frame at opposite end portions thereof, a motor support member including an open frame and a member mounted in said frame, said motor support member having portions of size and shape to receive and carry a portion of an outboard motor or the like, a first pair of arms each connected in one end portion to side portions of said frame of said motor support member and having the other end portions thereof pivotally connected to one of said pivots, a second pair of arms each connected in one end portion to said frame of said motor support member in spaced relation to said first pair of arms and pivotally connected to the other end portion to the other of said pivots, each of'said arms of said pairs of arms being of like size and parallel to other of said arms of said pairs of arms, said pairs of arms being movable from a lowered position substantially perpendicular to said U-shaped portion of said mounting frame to an elevated position substantially parallel thereto, two spring mounting flanges each having a centrally located hole therethrough, each of said arms of said first pair of arms having one of said flanges secured thereto on the inner surface thereof and spaced from said one of said pivots, two helical springs positioned around said one of said pivots at opposite end portions thereof and having one end portion thereof engaging said base portion of said U-shaped portion of said mounting frame and having the other end portion thereof projecting through said holes in said spring mounting flanges, said springs being mounted so that said arms are urged into the elevated position, one of said braces having an elongated longitudinally extending slot therein on one side thereof with one end of said slot being adjacent one of said arms of said second pair of arms when said arms are in the lowered position, a shaft mounted on the other side portion of said one of said braces adjacent the other of said slot therein, an elongated latch member having one end portion pivotally mounted on said shaft and having the other end portion thereof engageable with said one of said braces adjacent said one end portion of said slot with said latch member having a side portion thereof projecting through said slot in said one of said braces and positionable in the path of said one of said arms of said first pair of arms to hold said arms in the elevated position, a latch spring mounting member fixedly connected to said other side portion of said one of said braces and positioned in spaced relation to said latch member, and an elongated coil latch spring operatively connected to said latch spring mounting member and to said latch member opposite from said side portion through said slot with said latch spring being in compression to urge said side portion of said latch member through said slot in said one of said braces, and a latch operating member having one end portion fixedly connected to said latch member with the other end portion thereof being positioned in spaced relation to said latch member so that said latch operating member can be moved to urge said latch member against said spring, said mounting means for outboard motors and the like being constructed and adapted so that said U-shaped portion of said frame can be mounted on the transom of a boat or the like and an outboard motor connected to said motor support member with the outboard motor being movable into and out of the water by lowering and raising said motor support member and moving said pairs of arms between the lowered and the elevated positions, said latch member being engageable by said one of said arms of said second pair of arms when in an elevated position to prevent inadvertent movement of said arms and thereby retain said motor support member in an elevated position.

2. Mounting means for outboard motors or the like comprising, in combination, a mounting frame connectible to a transom of a boat or the like and having a projecting portion positioned in spaced relation to the boat or the like when mounted thereon, a motor support member having a portion of size and shape to receive and carry a portion of an outboard motor or the like, a first pair of arms positioned in spaced relation and pivotally connected to said frame and said motor support member, a second pair of arms positioned in spaced relation to each other and said first pair of arms and pivotally con nected to said frame and said motor support member, said pairs of arms being movable from a lowered position substantially perpendicular to the transom of the boat or the like when said frame is mounted thereon to an elevated position substantially perpendicular to the lowered position, a helical spring acting in torsion mounted on said frame and having one end portion engaging same and the other end portion connected to one of said arms, said spring being mounted so that said arms are urged into the elevated position, said projecting portion of said frame having an aperture therein with one portion of said aperture being adjacent one of said arms when said arms are in the lowered position, a latch member pivotally mounted on said projecting portion of said frame and with a portion thereof engageable with said projecting portion of said frame adjacent said one portion of said aperture and with said latch member having a portion thereof projecting through said aperture and positionable in the path of said one of said arms adjacent said aperture when same is in lowered position to hold said arms in the elevated position, a coil spring acting in compression operatively connected to said projecting portion of said frame and said latch member urging said portion thereof through said aperture and into position to prevent movement of said arms from the elevated to the lowered position, and a latch operating member having a portion fixedly connected to said latch member and with a portion thereof being positioned in spaced relation to said latch member so that said latch operating member can be moved to urge said latch member against said coil spring and release said latch, said mounting means for outboard motor or the like being constructed and adapted so that said frame can be mounted on the transom of a boat or the like and an outboard motor mounted on said motor support member with said motor being movable upwardly and downwardly with said arms and said motor support member to thereby place the propeller of the motor into and out of the water, said latch member being engageable by said one of said arms adjacent said aperture when same is in an elevated position to prevent inadvertent movement of said arms and thereby retain said motor support member in an elevated position.

3. Mounting means for outboard motors or the like comprising, in combination, a mounting frame connectible to a transom of a boat or the like and having a projecting portion positioned in spaced relation to the boat or the like when mounted thereon, a motor support member having a portion of size and shape to receive and carry a portion of an outboard motor or the like, an arm pivotally connected to said frame and .said motor support member, said arm being movable from a lowered position substantially perpendicular to the transom of the boat or the like when said frame is mounted thereon to an elevated position substantially perpendicular to the lowered position, a helical spring acting in torsion mounted on said frame and having one end portion engaging same and the other end portion connected to said arm, said spring being mounted so that said arm is urged into the elevated position, said projecting portion of said frame having an aperture therein, a latch member pivotally mounted on said projecting portion of said frame and with a portion engagable with a portion of said projecting portion of said frame adjacent said aperture, said latch member having a portion thereof project ing through said aperture and positionable in the path of said arm when same is in elevated position to hold said arm in such position, a spring operatively connected to said projecting portion of said frame and said latch member urging said portion thereof through said aperture and into position to prevent movement of said arm from the elevated to the lowered position, said latch member having a portion graspable so that said latch can be released against the pressure of said spring, said mountingmeans for outboard motors or the like being constructed and adapted so that said frame can be mounted on the transom of a boat or the like and an outboard motor mounted on said motor support member with said motor being movable upward and downward with said arm between lowered and elevated positions, said latch member being engageable by said arm when in an elevated positionto prevent inadvertent movement of said arm and thereby retain said motor support member in an elevated position.

References; (lited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,643,837 6/ 1953 Rivers 248-4 2,7 82,744 2/ 1957 Staley 115-41 3,03 3,500 5/1962 Graves 2484 3,075,490 1/1963 Lang 115-41 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner. 

3. MOUNTING MEANS FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS OR THE LIKE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A MOUNTING FRAME CONNECTIBLE TO A TRANSOM OF A BOAT OR THE LIKE AND HAVING A PROJECTING PORTION POSITIONED IN SPACED RELATION TO THE BOAT OR THE LIKE WHEN MOUNTED THEREON, A MOTOR SUPPORT MEMBER HAVING A PORTION OF SIZE AND SHAPE TO RECEIVE AND CARRY A PORTION OF AN OUTBOARD MOTOR OR THE LIKE, AND ARM PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID FRAME AND SAID MOTOR SUPPORT MEMBER, SAID ARM BEING MOVABLE FROM A LOWERED POSITION SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE TRANSOM OF THE BOAT OR THE LIKE WHEN SAID FRAME IS MOUNTED THEREON TO AN ELEVATED POSITION SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE LOWERED POSITION, A HELICAL SPRING ACTING IN TORSION MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME AND HAVING ONE END PORTION ENGAGING SAME AND THE OTHER END PORTION CONNECTED TO SAID ARM, SAID SPRING BEING MOUNTED SO THAT SAID ARM IS URGED INTO THE ELEVATED POSITION, SAID PROJECTING PORTION OF SAID FRAME HAVING AN APERTURE THEREIN, A LATCH MEMBER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID PROJECTING PORTION OF SAID FRAME AND WITH A PORTION ENGAGEABLE WITH A PORTION OF SAID PROJECTING PORTION OF SAID FRAME ADJACENT SAID APERTURE, SAID LATCH MEMBER HAVING A PORTION THEREOF PROJECTING THROUGH SAID APERTURE AND POSITIONABLE IN THE PATH OF SAID ARM WHEN SAME IS IN ELEVATED POSITION TO HOLD SAID ARM IN SUCH POSITION, A SPRING OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID PROJECTING PORTION OF SAID FRAME AND SAID LATCH MEMBER URGING SAID PORTION THEREOF THROUGH SAID APERTURE AND INTO POSITION TO PREVENT MOVEMENT OF SAID ARM FROM THE ELEVATED TO THE LOWERED POSITION, SAID LATCH MEMBER HAVING A PORTION GRASPABLE SO THAT SAID LATCH CAN BE RELEASED AGAINST THE PRESSURE OF SAID SPRING, SAID MOUNTING MEANS FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS OR THE LIKE BEING CONSTRUCTED AND ADAPTED SO THAT SAID FRAME CAN BE MOUNTED ON THE TRANSOM OF A BOAT OR THE LIKE AND AN OUTBOARD MOTOR MOUNTED ON SAID MOTOR SUPPORT MEMBER WITH SAID MOTOR BEING MOVABLE UPWARD AND DOWNWARD WITH SAID ARM BETWEEN LOWERED AND ELEVATED POSITIONS, SAID LATCH MEMBER BEING ENGAGEABLE BY SAID ARM WHEN IN AN ELEVATED POSITION TO PREVENT INADVERTENT MOVEMENT OF SAID ARM AND THEREBY RETAIN SAID MOTOR SUPPORT MEMBER IN AN ELEVATED POSITION. 